Indonesia signs air travel agreement with Turkey

JAKARTA

Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed an agreement with Turkey regarding air travel between the two nations.

The deal was an effort to improve connectivity of air transportation to support economic activities, especially trade in goods and services, investment and movement of people from both countries, according to a statement on the Cabinet Secretariat’s website Thursday.

"The agreement related to scheduled air transport was signed on July 3, 2019 and came into force on July 8, 2019,” it said.

Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, added Indonesia's world-famous holiday island, Bali, to its flight network in July.

Istanbul-Bali direct flights operate seven times per week and carry up to 300 passengers.

Each party has the right to designate its nation’s flagged air transport company to carry out international air transportation services between two countries.

"Each party shall have the same and fair rights and obligations in carrying out air transportation services within and outside the territory of the parties,” according to the agreement.

“The number of flight frequencies and capacities, including flight schedules, must obtain the approval of the respective civil aviation authority of each party," it added.

The regulation also stated airlines operating on international routes designated by each party must be exempt from all duties, taxes, fees and inspections, and other costs including goods sold in aircraft when the item is in the territory of another party, provided that the equipment and supplies remain inside the aircraft.

The first Indonesian-Turkish air relations agreement was signed in February 1993 to provide a legal basis for civil aviation regulation between two countries.